วันอังคารที่ 14 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2555

Audemars Piguet is one of the undisputed leviathans of the watchmaking world. The brand started producing mechanical watches in 1875, and has become a master of high-end complications. Today, it’s perhaps most famous for its Royal Oak sports watches. The original was the first recognised luxury watch in stainless steel – an unthinkable proposition in 1972, but now commonplace. That’s the influence of Audemars Piguet – it leads, others follow.

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Baume & Mercier is one of the brands pioneering ‘affordable luxury’, creating quality Swiss timepieces that don’t cost the earth at its base in the Jura region, one of watchmaking’s historical epicentres. The brand’s collection focuses around four elegant lines: Capeland, Classima, Hampton and Linea. The latter is an innovative range of pieces designed exclusively for ladies that features an ingenious interchangeable strap system.

When Bell & Ross recently completed what it calls ‘the evolution of the military watch’. This process began in reverse with the ultra-modern BR 01 collection of square-cased watches over a decade ago, and finished in 2011 with the PW1 pocket watch. Bell & Ross’s military-inspired collections typically feature clear dials and rugged cases, conforming to a practical aesthetic that has become hugely desirable.

Blancpain is the world’s oldest watch brand. It was founded in 1735 and over nearly three centuries has proved one of the most prolific movement manufacturers, not least of high-end complications. Still a traditional company, Blancpain makes its minute repeaters, carrousels and perpetual calendars on two sites, one of which is a converted farmhouse in the village of Le Brassus, right in the heart of the Swiss watchmaking community.

Breitling is one of the original pioneers of the wristwatch chronograph, a complication that has come to define the brand’s collection. Breitling enjoys close links with the world of aviation, both through its collection of aeronautically themed timepieces and through associations with events such as the Reno Air Races. In 2009, Breitling unveiled its own chronograph movement, the Calibre 01, which was followed in 2011 by the Calibre 04.

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Ever since it first began crafting fine watches and jewellery back in 1847, Cartier has been a byword for luxury. The Parisian house is also universally revered as the brand that popularised the wristwatch at the turn of the 20th century, with the introduction of the original Santos. Ultimately, the brand stands for desirability – nothing says you’ve made it quite like Cartier.

Chanel’s high-end watch collection revolves around the many incarnations of the J12, a watch designed by the brand’s late artistic director Jacques Helleu. Launched in 2000 as a small collection of black and white ceramic mechanicals, it achieved what many watches before it failed to do – fuse the worlds of high fashion and specialist watchmaking in a package that had both broad appeal and horological credibility.

It’s been observed that you can gauge glamour and luxury by the celebrity it attracts. If that’s true, there’s no stronger claim to the title of world’s most glamorous watch brand than Chopard’s. Consider the little-known Chopard Oscar Winner’s Club – for the last nine years, every star wearing Chopard at the Academy Awards has walked off with a golden statue.

Edox is an independent watch house based in the Swiss Jura, where its been producing a collection of men’s and ladies’ watches since 1884. Notable achievements include the world’s thinnest calendar movement, which, at 1.4mm thick, has been a record since 1999. Today, the brand’s profile is maintained by sponsorship of the World Rally Championship and backed up by a collection of very reasonably priced watches.

If there’s one thing you can’t fake in the watch industry, it’s heritage. The International Watch Company has been with us since 1868 when Boston watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones planted his watch business in Schaffhausen, starting a business that has brought us some of the most iconic watches in history.

In its long and illustrious history, Jaeger-LeCoultre has produced over 1,000 different in-house calibres, an astonishing record the brand is rightly proud of. Sixty of those calibres (many of them among the most complicated in the world) feature across the contemporary collection, making Jaeger-LeCoultre one of the most prolific of today’s in-house movement manufacturers.

Longines has been one of the pillars of the watch industry since 1832 and is renowned for its mechanical timepieces, not least those in the Master Collection, a stunning range of watches that casts light on the brand’s long and illustrious watchmaking past. Longines is also known for its devotion to all things elegant and offers a vast collection of charming ladies’ timepieces, with lines carrying evocative, sensual names like DolceVita and PrimaLuna.

The quiet town of Glashütte is Germany’s watchmaking capital and home to a growing number of luxury watch brands, including NOMOS, a quirky young company making minimal-looking timepieces powered by movements developed in-house at its own manufacture. Nomos, which is Greek for ‘law’, has a growing reputation for offering some of the best-value watches with in-house movements in the world.

One of the giants of watchmaking, Omega enjoys brand recognition all over the world – and on the Moon. The famous Speedmaster Professional ‘Moonwatch’ accompanied the Apollo 11 crew to the Moon in 1969 and became the first and only watch to be worn on the lunar surface. In the process, it became one of the true iconic watch designs. Omega watches are known for their reliability, accuracy, performance and style.

Independently owned Oris will be familiar to Formula 1 fans because of the long-standing relationship it has with Williams F1. The brand’s collection is powered exclusively by mechanical movements – and the automatics are all fired by Oris’s signature red rotor. Ardent Oris followers talk of the incredible value you get from the brand’s timepieces, hence the company strapline, ‘real watches for real people’.

Sometimes a watch design comes to life in response to a challenge. When the Royal Italian Navy turned to Panerai in 1936 for a reliable, water-resistant watch, the result was the Radiomir. It was followed by the equally iconic Luminor, which, like the Radiomir, takes its name from the luminescent material Panerai developed to make its watches legible in dark conditions. Today, the Italian styling remains, backed up by Swiss-made movements.

Patek Philippe holds the rare distinction of being a deeply horological watch house and also a household name. The independent family company keeps production levels deliberately low to maintain exclusivity and watchmaking standards unstintingly high, even going so far as to introduce its own quality standard – the Patek Philippe Seal – because no other recognised mark of excellence was sufficiently thorough.

The leading name in luxury wristwatches, Rolex has been the pre-eminent symbol of performance and prestige for over a century. Headquarted in Geneva, Switzerland, with 28 affiliates worldwide and relying on 4,000 watch-makers in over 100 countries, Rolex continues to expand its long history of achievement and innovation.

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Watch brands don’t come much bigger than TAG Heuer – it is one of the most recognised brand names in the world. Part of the reason for this is a long-standing relationship with sports timing – motorsport in particular – but the brand’s success lies in a collection of watches inspired by 150 years of watchmaking history. From the Monaco to the new Monza, TAG Heuer’s catalogue of iconic watch designs just seems to get better with age.

The story behind U-Boat starts in 1942 with an Italian named Ilvo Fontana, who was asked by the Italian government to create a watch for the country’s navy. Fontana’s designs were overlooked (in favour of Panerai’s) and mothballed for over half a century until they were discovered by his grandson Italo in 1999. Today’s U-Boat watches are all powered by mechanical Swiss movements and are designed with unmistakable Italian flair.

There are older brands than Vacheron Constantin – only a few, mind – but none with a history that stretches back, uninterrupted, over 250 years to 1755. One of the great traditional brands, the Geneva-based company is a specialist movement maker. Many of its in-house calibres carry the prestigious Geneva Seal, one of the ultimate signs of watchmaking quality.

Under the leadership of founder Georges Favre-Jacot, Zenith became the first watch house in the world to undertake the many processes of watchmaking ‘under one roof’. That was in 1865. Today, the philosophy remains – current company president Jean-Frédéric Dufour has focussed the brand’s collection around Zenith’s two most celebrated in-house movements, the El Primero chronograph and the ultra-thin Elite.

SwitzerlandVisaInformation

Learn4good provides general information on study, travel, workvisaand businessvisarequirements and the addresses of embassies worldwide. You should contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information orvisaforms.

For Hotels, Hostels, Car Hire, Jobs and Schoolsin this country, see the menu options above. See ourTravel Forumtocreate a traveltopic and ask questionstofellow travelers.

* The following documents are valid for entry intoSwitzerland:• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region People’s Republic of China Passport (HKSAR Passport);visaexemption – V1• Hong Kong British National Overseas Passport (BNO Passport);visaexemption – V1• Hong Kong Certificate of Identity; obligationtohold avisa– V• Document of Identity forvisapurposes containing under the heading “nationality” the entry “Chinese.” In this case, the document is a Chinese passport. (If holder’s nationality is not mentioned, the document is not valid for entry intoSwitzerland.); obligationtohold avisa– V(The “Hong Kong British Dependent Territories Citizens Passport” is not valid anymore for entry intoSwitzerland.)

What documents will be required?For studentvisas, the following documents are required:
1. 3 copies of completed application form.2. 4 passport-size photographs (undamaged and of recent date).
3. Passport or travel document valid for at least 3 months after intended visit.
4. 3 copies of the passport including the signature page.5. Return/onward ticket andvisafor next country of destination if required.
6. Proof of sufficient funds in the form of a recent bank statement.

Note:1. Thevisaapplication must be submittedtothe Swiss Embassy/Consulate covering your place of residence.2. You must be in possession of sufficient financial meanstocover your cost of living inSwitzerland.
3. The Swiss Embassy/Consulate may demand a declaration of guarantee.4. You may not take up employment during your stay inSwitzerlandwithout the required permit nor take up studies exceeding a period of three months.
5. A student permit is valid for the length of the study period.

Residence permits are awardedtostudents who wishtostudy inSwitzerlandunder the following conditions:a. The applicant is comingtoSwitzerlandaloneb. The applicant wantstoattend a university or some other institution of higher learning
c. The program of studies is fixed
d. The institution attests in writing that the applicant has been accepted for studies
e. The applicant proves necessary financial meansf. The applicant guarantees departure fromSwitzerlandat the end of studies.

Formalitiestocomplete inSwitzerlandfor all foreign students:1. You must present yourself within ten days of arrivaltothe appropriate in thetown where you will be living with the following documents:i. Passport (with studentvisa, if required)
ii. Statement of arrival provided by the bureau of foreigners
iii. Student questionnaire provided by the bureau of foreigners
iv. Proof of acceptance from the schoolv. 1 recent passport-style photo
vi. Proof of financial means for the duration of studies, or
vii. Proof of Swiss or foreign financial aid, with the amount indicated, or
viii. Guarantee from parents (form available from the bureau of foreigners). This must be completed by the father or mother, certified by local authorities, and accompanied by a permanent wire transfer order, orix. Guarantee from a third party (form available from the bureau of foreigners). The guarantor must live inSwitzerlandand prove sufficient financial means for the student’s upkeep. The guarantor’s signature must be notarized by the local authorities.x. The request for a residence permit will not be processed until all documents are submitted. Cost of residence permit is for 1 semester 15to22 ($US), for 2 semesters 18to25 ($US)2. After matriculating in the university, you must pay fees for the first semester. You will not be definitively registered until you have done this and received the receipt by post. With this receipt, you must visit thetown authorities a second timetoprove that you are officially registered in the university.

Time requiredtoissue avisa:
The procedure usually takes between 6–8 weeks, sometimes longer, depending on the season. We therefore recommend you submit your application as early as possible.

What is the cost of avisa?Visaapplication fee in cash or postal orders:
£50.00, adults
£30.00, children aged 6-12
£30.00, nationals of Serbia, Bosnia and HerzegovinaThere is novisafee for the following applicants:
– minors under the age of 6 years
– school pupils, students and accompanying teachers on study or educational trips
– Researchers
– spouses and children of EU nationalsProof of relationship is required (original passport of EU spouse or children and original birth certificate/s of child/ren or marriage certificate). Documents not in English, German, French or Italian require a certified translation. Photocopies of documents are also required. All fees are non-refundable and will not be refunded if yourvisaapplication is not successful.

How long is thevisavalid for?
A student permit is valid for the length of the study period.Visitorvisais valid for upto3 months.Transit and airport transitvisas are issuedtonationals wishingtopass throughSwitzerlandor continuing on a connecting flighttoanother country.Holders of transitvisas must leaveSwitzerlandwithin 24 hours of arrival and holders of airport transitvisas must continue their journey within 48 hours.

Other information:I would liketoextend myvisa. What must I do?Based on the prevailing division of competence between the Federal Government and the cantons, the cantonal authorities are responsible for the extension ofvisas or the granting of aliens police residence permits. For this reason, we ask youtoaddress your enquiry directlytothe cantonal migration authorities responsible for your place of residence.Please note that, in general, you are only permittedtostay inSwitzerlandfor a maximum of 3 months within any 6 month period.

I havetosend a letter of invitation. What format should I use, is there an official form?You do not need a special form for the letter of invitation. However, the letter should contain the reason for, and the length of, the stay as well as details about who is financing the stay inSwitzerland.

I havetosubmit a sponsorship declaration. Where can I find the form?You will be given the sponsorship declaration form (formerly declaration of guarantee) at the Swiss representation when you present yourvisaapplication (provided a guarantee is considered necessary).

What documents must I present when applying for avisa?
Please contact the Swiss representation abroad responsible for your place of residence for detailed information.

I recently visitedSwitzerlandon avisa. When may I return, what is the maximum length of time I can stay inSwitzerlandas a visitor?The duration of visits is limitedtoa maximum of 90 days within a six-month period, i.e. atotal of 180 days within the course of a year. There must be an interruption of at least one month between two stays of 90 days. Shorter stays also marked in thevisaremain reserved. There is, however, no automatic righttoavisa.

My passport soon expires. Can I still use ittoenter / leaveSwitzerland?Please check thevisaregulations for your nationality. If no specific information is indicated, your passport must simply be valid for the duration of your stay.

I would liketoextend myvisa. What must I do?Based on the prevailing division of competence between the Federal Government and the cantons, the cantonal authorities are responsible for the extension ofvisas or the granting of aliens police residence permits. For this reason, we ask youtoaddress your enquiry directlytothe cantonal migration authorities responsible for your place of residence.

I have a Schengenvisa. Do I also need avisaforSwitzerland?Before the entry intoforce of the Agreement betweenSwitzerlandand the EU Member States (probably not until December 2008 at the earliest), a Schengenvisadoes not entitle youtoenterSwitzerland. Thus you will need avisafor entrytoSwitzerland.

Exceptions: Holders of a valid passport and a valid Schengenvisafrom the following countries may enterSwitzerlandwithout a separatevisa: Taiwan, Thailand, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi-Arabia, United Arab Emirates.

Persons with a valid residence permit from Great Britain, Ireland, Canada or a Green Card from the USA require avisaforSwitzerland.

I am travelling in Europe and would liketogo on a triptoSwitzerland. How can I get avisa?As a rule,visaapplications havetobe filed at the Swiss representation responsible for your place of residence. Should this be impossible, please contact the nearest Swiss representation. There is, however, no automatic righttoavisa.

I would liketotravel throughSwitzerlandduring my journey by car. Do I need avisa?There are no exceptional provisions for transit throughSwitzerlandby car. The usualvisaregulations apply.

WorkVisaIf your employer has applied for your work permit inSwitzerlandand it has been granted, you still must apply for avisatoenterSwitzerlandwith the competent Swiss representation abroad.Toapply for thevisa, you must submit the following documentstothe competent Swiss representation:One national (type D)visaapplication form, fully completed and signed by the applicant. For stays upto3 months or authorisations for a 120 dayvisa, the regular Schengenvisaapplication form should be used. Applications which are not duly completed, dated and signed will not be accepted. Please also indicate your e-mail address and a contact phone number in case additional information is required.Two passport photos per applicant (very strict requirements, please consult the details on the webpage)
Applicant’s valid original passport, plus a copyVisafee (only money order or cash)
If applying by mail: one prepaid, self-addressed, return envelope with a tracking number

Disclaimer:The contents of these pages are provided as an information guide only, in good faith. The use of this website is at the viewer/user’s sole risk. While every effort is made in presenting up-to-date and accurate information, no responsibility or liability is accepted by the ownerstothis website for any errors, omissions, outdated or misleading information on these pages or any sitetowhich these pages connect or are linked.Source & Copyright: The source of the abovevisaand immigration information and copyright owner/s is the:– SwissVisaVFS Global – URL: http://ch.vfsglobal.co.uk– Federal Office for Migration,Switzerland– URL: www.bfm.admin.ch
– Varsity Admission – URL: www.varsityadmission.comThe viewer/user of this web page should use the above information as a guideline only, and should always contact the above sources or the user’s own government representatives for the most up-to-date information at that moment in time, before making a final decisiontotraveltothat country or destination.

Strong regionalism inSwitzerlandmakes it difficult to speak of a homogeneous Swiss culture. The influence ofGerman,FrenchandItalianculture on their neighbouring parts cannot be denied. The Rhaeto-Romanic culture in the eastern mountains of Switzerland is robust.

Folk arts

Folk art is kept alive in organizations all over the country. In Switzerland it is mostly expressed inmusic,dance,poetry,wood carvingandembroidery. There is also a great number of regional and local rites demarcating times of the year.Yodeling, despite being stereotypical for Switzerland, is not widely spread and is limited to some mountain areas. The same is true for theaccordion, which is sometimes called by the nameSchwiizerörgeli, implying that it was a Swiss musical instrument, rather than the GermanHandorgel.Thealphorn, sometimes called thealpenhorn, is a trumpet- like musical instrument made of wood. It is thought to have the perfect form for a musical wind instrument. The use of the alphorn is seen mainly in mountainous regions, can be very popular in some areas, and like yodeling or the accordion, it has become an epitome of traditional Swiss music.The melodies of folk music vary between regions. Generally those in pastoral areas are floating and wide-ranging. In the inner and southern Alps, however, the melodies are more songlike, and of more limited range. Common and popular themes are about love and the homeland, but patriotic and pastoral themes, as well as hunting themes, are also commonplace.

The Alpine folk culture is characterized by very expressive dances. Small musical ensembles can be found in the more mountainous areas, particularly in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.The most common form of woodcarving ischip carving. Such carving is normally for the decoration of everyday objects, such as milk stools, neckbands for bells, wooden spoons,, or walking sticks. Figure carving is also common, particularly of Nativity figures. In some areas, the façades of houses are richly decorated using woodcarving. This is widespread in theBernese Oberlandregion whereProtestant Christianitypredominates. In Roman Catholic regions, this is far less common.Embroidery is common on traditional clothing, particularly women's clothing. Embroidery is often limited to prominent points, such as cuffs, hats and scarves. Embroidery is also used for the decoration of fabric. In the past, embroidery was a home industry in the northeast and the east of Switzerland. In recent days, embroidery is confined to tourism, as traditional clothes are no longer in use.On certain autumn nights, children's processions with lanterns are common in Alemannic Switzerland. Lanterns (calledRääbeliechtli"turnip light") are hand-carved from root vegetables, generallyturnips, by removing the interior and putting a candle inside. TheRääbeliechtliis carved with designs, such as the traditional sun, moon and stars. The lantern is then suspended by three chains. The children walk through the streets of their town with the lanterns and sing traditional songs. The custom originates withthanksgivingtraditions at the end of harvest in November.

Architecture

There is a strong architectural tradition in Switzerland. The Romanesque style of the 12th century can be found in the cathedrals ofBasel,Sion,Chur,GenevaandLausanne. This style, which is rich in expression, can also be found on many castles and fortresses around the country, many of which preserved in a good condition. The cathedrals ofSchaffhausen,ZugandZürichare of the Gothic style, and the churches ofEinsiedelnandSt. Gallenare of Baroque style. During theRenaissance, a large number of architectural masters gave their talents toItaly. Most of these came from the southern canton ofTicino. The Prisons near theDoge's PalaceinVeniceand theRialto BridgeinVenicewere built byAntonio da Ponte. TheBridge of Sighsin Venice was built byAntonio Contino, andDomenico Fontana(1543–1607) designed the entireLateran PalaceinNaplesas well as the facade of theSt. John Lateran Churchand theRoyal Palacein the same city. Fontana's nephewCarlo Madernowas an architect to PopePaul V.San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, the gallery of thePalazzo Spadaand theFilippini monasterywere built byFrancesco Borromini, andCarlo Fontanawas responsible for the facade ofSan Marcello al Corsoand theMontecitorio Palace; Baldassare Longhena, from Maroggia, built the church ofSanta Maria della Salute, theRezzonicoand theWidmannpalaces; all inVenice.

Visual arts

In the 16th century Protestantism had a strong influence on visual arts in Switzerland.Samuel Hieronymus Grimmwas a well-known 18th-century watercolourist and ink wash artist, although he created much of his notable work while in England. There was almost no influence from Italian or French Renaissance. Chiefly in modern times did Swiss artists begin to emerge internationally.Alberto Giacomettiis said to have derived much of his inspiration from theEtruscans, but became internationally known.Jean Tinguelyfascinated people from all over the world with complex moving sculptures constructed entirely from scrap materials.Paul Kleeis sometimes regarded as Switzerland's most original and impressive painter.TheDadamovement originated in Switzerland during the 1910s.Despite the relatively small number of internationally famous artists, there are considerable art collections in renowned museums around Switzerland. These are not only found in the cities ofZürich,BaselandGenevabut also in smaller towns such asSchaffhausen,MartignyandWinterthur. The museums in the smaller towns pride themselves for their contribution to the arts, which exceed what is commonly found in provincial areas.Graphic arts flourish in Switzerland, as does creative photography. Examples of this can be found on calendars, magazines and outdoor billboard advertisements.

Media

Newspapers have a strong regional character, but some are renowned for their thorough coverage of international issues, such as theNeue Zürcher ZeitungofZürichandLe TempsofGeneva. As elsewhere,televisionplays a great role in modern cultural life in Switzerland. The national public broadcaster,SRG SSR idée suisse, offers three networks, one each for the German, French and Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. In the German-speaking part, television from Germany is popular, as is television from France in the French-speaking part and television from Italy in the Italian-speaking part. American movies and television series are influential in all areas.Infilm, American productions constitute most of the programme, although several Swiss movies have enjoyed commercial successes in recent years. Maybe due to the multilingual culture, almost all movie theatres play movies in their original language with subtitles, and films on television are often broadcast in original and synchronized versions.

Leisure

The close proximity to the mountains in all areas in Switzerland has greatly influenced the leisure of Swiss people. The growth of ski and mountaineering resorts in the Swiss mountains have caused the Swiss to become very sports conscious. Apart from skiing and mountaineering, Swiss-style wrestling (Schwingen) is still popular in rural areas. Sunday-morning shooting sessions andHornussen(a kind of Alpine baseball) are two other traditional Swiss sports.Shooting,Tennis,golf,ice hockey,football(soccer),basketball,handball,gliding,paragliding,sailing,swimming,volleyball,floorball,mountain bikingandhikingin the forests and mountains are all popular pastimes. Fishing is commonplace in the many lakes and rivers, but often a licence is necessary. Many mountain lakes freeze over during winter and are used for curling, horse and dog racing, particularly aroundSt. Moritz.